Apparatus for stenciling articles



Aug. 24, 1943. D, G, REMPEL APPARA'LIUS FOR STENCILING ARTICLES Filed March 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR D/fTR/CH G. REMPEL.

I BY 4 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 24, 1943.

D. G. REMPEL APPARATUS FOR STENCILING ARTICLES Filed March 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR DIETPICH G. PEMPEL.

ATTORNEYS.

APPARATUS FOR STENCILING ARTICLES Filed- March 15, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 i """L 34 34 :1 K H 4; 44 $3 INVENTOR:

394 2a .D/ETRICH G. Pan/=52 l6. 5 3

ATTORNEYS. 3 I

Aug. 24, 1943, D. G. REMPEL APPARATUS FOR STENCILI NG ARTICLES Filed March 15 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ill- ZN V EN TOR:

ETFalCH G. PEMPEL.

A TTQRNEYS.

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 ,uNiT ED STA E 1 amass 7 2,327,668 APPARATUS FOR STENCILING An'ricms 'Die't'rich G. Reinp'el, Barberton;

The Sun Rubber Company, Barberton,

corporation of Ohio Ohio, assignor to Ohio, a

Application'M arch 15, 1940, serial No. 324,128

. 13 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for painting articles, and in particular relatesto apparatus for stenciling rubber balls or the like with paint spray. A

An object of this invention is to provide apparatus for progressively painting rubber balls or like articles, from a continuous source of supply.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple, eflicient, continuous apparatus for spraypainting articles, such as rubber balls, one or more colors; with aminimum of waste due to smearing the articles in handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the character described, simple, efficient mechanism for progressively handling or moving articles, such as rubber balls, between stations of operation.

These and other objects of the invention will be manifest from the following brief description and the accompanyingdrawings.

Oftheaccompanyingldrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of 'a continuous machine for paint-spraying rubber balls, as embodied in the invention. i 1

Figure 2 is a cross-section, on a larger scale, and. partly broken away, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure "3 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, and partly broken away, taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a cross-section taken on line S -3 of'Figure ,3, in the chain-dotted line position thereof.

Figure 4 is a cross-section, partly broken away,

taken substantially on line 4'4 of Figure 3. 1

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view, partly broken away and in "section, of the means for releasably securing "the mating mask sections in the holders therefor.

Figure 6 1s a cross-section taken on line 6- 6 of Figure 2, illustrating the cam mechanism for moving the mask sections toward and frommating relation.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 1-1 of Figure '6. v

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-section, partly broken away and in, section, taken substantially at line '8- -8 of Figure 2, illustrating the mechanism for removing the spray-painted balls from the stenciling masks. I v A Figure '9 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown inFigure 8, as viewed from the .left thereof.

(c1. ion-114) Figure 10 is a cross-section taken on line i fil -40 ofFigure 8. J l

Referring to the drawings, the numeral i5 designates a frame having spaced uprights It, It

5 for supporting ball-supplying,"ball-spraying, and ball-removing mechanisms, indicated generally at B, S, and R, respectively. Referring particularly to Figures 1, 3, 3 and 4:, the ball-feeding mechanism J3 may comprise a chute I2, supported between the uprights l6 and inclining downwardly toward the same. The balls A may be progressively placed on the chute l2, or supplied thereto froma continuous source of supply (not shownlby means of a conveyor, indicated in chain-dotted linesat IF. A concave idler roller [2 may be mounted in the chute lziso that a portion thereof projects upwardly in the path of the balls, for purposes to befdescribed. i

20 @Journalled in bearings 13 13 on uprights iii may be a shaft 13 on which is:keyed a'relativeiy thin Wheel or disc I3 Wheel l3 is provided with a series of circumferentiallyispaced recesses l3 of substantially the sametcurvature as the balls A, each recess having a pair of spaced pins 13 13 adapted. yieldingly. to engage a ball at substantially diametrically opposite points thereof as the wheel is rotated in counterclockwise direction (see Figures 1 and 3) .theballsjprogres- 'sively rolling downchute' l2 intocooperating relation with recesses 13 in wheel l3". ;Interme diatethe spaced pins, Hi in eachrecess may be a similar-pin [3%, which yieldingly engagesthe balls to prevent the same" from'turning 'on pins Ki 'The rotating wheel 13 yieldingly urges the balls pastroller [2 to force the balls into firm engagement with pins [3 and It m the respective recesses. The pins l-3 may be arranged to engage the balls A at opposite points inwardly of the diameters thereof so as to provide just enough gripping action on the. balls to support little 'more than the Weight thereof, but being readily releasable by means to be described in connection with thespray-painting mechanism S.

The ball-feeding wheel I3 is driven insynchronism with the orbital movement of the spraypainting masks in mechanism S, by means of a gear H! on shaft l3 meshing with a gear M on a constantly driven shaft l8 journalled in bearings l9, IS on theuprights IE. 4

- In the ball-spraying mechanism- 8, a pair of discs or plates l1, I! may be'securedin transverselyspaced relation "on shaft I8. Each disc I! may carry a plurality of rotatable mask-sections 20, 20' arranged in a circle concentrically about shaft i8, and adapted to be moved from and toward mating relation with similar masksections on the other disc H.

For rotating the discs shaft It has a sprocket 2| fixed thereon, driven by a chain 22 engaging a sprocket 23 on a shaft 24, which is journalled in bearings 25, 25 mounted on uprights 6, this shaft 24 in turn being driven by a chain 26 engaging between a sprocket 21 thereon and a sprocket 28 on a reduction gearing 29, driven by a suitable motor 36.

As best shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6, for moving the mask-sections 26 toward and from mating relation, each may be provided with a stem 3|, for fitting in bores 32 in the ends of stub shafts or supports 33, 33 journalled in non-rotatable holders 34, 34 (see Figure 6). These holders may have tongue portions 35 to be slidable axially of shaft I8 in slideways 36 of supports 31, secured to the discs I! as by means of bolts 31 31 Shafts 33, carried by holders 34 are freely slidable through suitable openings in discs l1.

The mask-sections 26 are arranged to be removable and replaceable on the holder-shafts 33 by means of a quickly operable interlocking device. To this end, the shafts 33may have slots 38 for receiving pivoted latches 39, preferably flush with the surface of the shafts so as not to interfere with the sliding and rotational movements of the shafts in the openings in discs I! (see Figure 5). Springs 46 normally urge the latch to engage fingers 36 thereof with edge portions of an annular groove 3| in the stems 3| of the respective mask-sections. The masksections thereby may be releasably' interlocked on shafts 33 by inserting the stems 3| thereof in the bores 32 of the shafts until fingers 39 -yieldingly engage in grooves 3|, and similarly are quickly removable by pressing the latch against the yielding action of springs 46 to disengage the fingers 39 from the stems 3|. The arrangement, for example, permits rapid removal of the mask-sections for cleaning the paint therefrom, which is usually necessary-at frequent intervals during paint-spraying operations.

The oppositely disposed pairs of mask-sections 20, on 'the'rotatable discs H, are arranged to be moved from and toward mating relation with each other, aboutballs which are progressively fed between by the ball-feeding wheel l3 For thispurpose, a pair of spaced cross-bars 42, 42*,

extending longitudinally of shaft I8, are-supported on the uprights l6. Non-rotatably secured between these cross-bars, and located out- "wardly of discs I7, may be a pair of spaced annular members 43, 43 which are concentric with shaft |8. Members 43 may be rectangular in cross-section to provide flat inner andouter track surfaces 43 and 43*, respectively, for a guide roller 44 mounted on each of the holders 34; As best shown in Figures 6 and '7, the radially inner faces 43 of each member 43, adjacent the bottoms thereof, may be provided with two circumferentially spaced cam grooves 45 and 45*, extending in opposite angular directions from side to side of the member, the arrangement'being such that pairs of rollers 44 traveling in clockwise direction on the inner surfaces 43 of both members 43, upon rotation of shaft l6, carrying discs l7, will'first enter cam grooves 45 of the respective members and continue their orbital movement on the outer track-surfaces 43 This shifting of the pairs of rollers from the'inner to the outer track surfaces moves the holders 34 thereofoutwardlyto shift the mating mask sections, carried by the holders 34, from mating relation about finished balls discharged shown in Figure 7, and are thereby guided from therouter to the inner track surfaces 43 and 43,

respectively; This inward movement of rollers 44 which is engaged a shifts the respective pairsof holders 34 inwardly on the supports 31, carried by rotating discs l'l, thereby moving the mating mask sections into mating relation about the balls. Continued orbital movement of the mating mask sections readily separates the'balls from the ball-supplying wheel I3 As best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a series of paint-spraying guns 46, 46 may be arranged transversely of the orbital path of the masks, each gun 46 being fixed on an arm 41,-pivotally and slidably mounted on a cross-shaft 48, which is supported by a ventilator conduit 49 which connects suitable, suction means -(not-shown) to carry away excessspray from the spray guns 46. Adjusting means 501s provided on.the end of each arm 4'! for, engaging shaft 48 to' adjust the positions of the sprayingun as desired.

In order that the balls will receive uniform coatings of paint the mating'mask sections are rotated in their holders 34 as the balls are carried past the spray-guns 46;" For this purpose, each holder34 at the rear side of the machine may have a cut-outportion 34*(see Figure 4) for receiving a pulley 5| keyed to the shaft 33, which is rotatable -in the holder. the inner side of rear member 43, across the top thereof, may be spaced pulleys 52 and 53 about length of the belt being guided by an idler pulley 55. The 'belt 54; may be constantly driven through a pulley 56 on the shaft 51 of the pulley .53 so that the lower length thereof will travel In the present apparatus the mask-sections 20,-

when in full mating relation with each other about the balls A, are spaced apart at the central portions of the balls so as toexpose an annular strip of the ball to a central spray gun 46, whereby bands of one color may, be painted around the periphery of the balls, the outer spray-guns being utilized to spray into openings of predetermined design in the respective mating mask sections, to form corresponding designs in various colors on opposite sides of the balls. In order that the balls will be accuratelycentered in the spraying mechanism S, the holders 34 may be so constructed that the inr ier ends thereof will be in abutment with the plates or-discs ll when Mounted on pulley; belt 54, the upper As best illustrated in Figures 2 "and 3, shielding means 66 is providedto'preventth'e paint from the spraying guns '46 from reaching balls A which have already beenspray-painted." This shielding means may comprise 'a hub 61 keyed err-shaft 18 to rotate therewith, and having a series'of flat blades 62, 62 extending radially between the adjacent mask sections. 1

Referring particularlyzto Figures 1, 2 and 3, the continued. rotational movement of shaft 18 carries the mask units from the spraying gun Mitoward the ball-removing mechanism R, the pulleys 5'! disengaging the belt iii to stop rotational movement of the mask sections at a pointintermediate the spray guns and the ball removing Y mechanism.

Because the balls may have wetpaint on them after they leave the paint-spraying device, the ball-removing mechanism R must necessarily handle the balls in such a manner that the wet paint on them will not be smeared. To this end,

shaft-I55, journalled in bearings 66 on theuprights l6 at the discharge end of theapparatus',

is driven by a gear B'ithereon engaging the continuously driven gear Hi on'shaft l8. Keyed on driven shaft 55 may be a cylindrical hub 68 having a series'of pairs or ball-grasping fingers 69, 6% extending radially therefrom, eac-h pair of fingers being pivotally connected at-m to the hub ,68 (see Figures 8, 9 and 10) so as to be shiftable from and toward each other. Connecting the fingers 69 to each pair thereof, adjacent the pivot TB, may be a toggle-joint ii, there being a slideblock 12 pivotally connected to the knee #3 of the toggle-joint, for sliding movement in a radially extending slideway "N in hub 53. Mounted on the slide-blocks F2, are rollers lbflfi'for rolling engagement with an inside cam surfacei'ii of a suitable cam iii, the latter being fixedly supported around shaftllS by means of a bracket H secured to the cross-bar 12 Compression springs '58, 18, engaged between. the inner ends of slideways M of blocks 12 urge rollers 15 into ielding engagement with the cam surface 76* of the 'fixed'cam. As hub 68 is rotated in counterclockwise direction (Figures 1, 3 and 8), cam 16 yieldingly moves successive rollers 15 .radially outwardly at pointE, to collapse toggle-joints I i,

thereby swinging the fingers iii; of the pairs there-oftoward each otherto engage pins 159% in the ends of the fingers at oppositely disposed points on a finished'ballA held between apair of mating mask sections 2% the balls being carried between the pairs of fingers, jdownwardlytoward a chain conveyor 83, the latter being driven by asprocket 8i on the drivensha it The pins te may be positioned to "engage the balls at opposite points radially inwardlyoi the diameter of the same, so that the balls will be readily releasable. p

The rotation of hub '68 is so synchronized with conveyor 8h that when each pair of fingers 69 is directly. over one ofaseries of spaced ball holders 8'2, 82, carriedb'y' conveyor 86, cam 76 will operate to straighten the toggle-joint Tl, thereby spreading the fingers'apart to release the ball. The ball may then drop a relatively short distance by gravity to be supported on four pins 82 82* on the cooperating holder 82, these pins being pointed so as not to smear the fresh paint on the balls. As the conveyor 86 progressively carries the balls supported on holders 32 toward a suitable inspection, packing, or like, station, the pairs of fingers 59 swing upwardly out of contact with the balls.

- .In the :operation lot the "apparatus with motor 129 continuously driving. 'loall supplying, ,ballspraying,fend bali-erem'oving' mechanisms B, S, andre'spectiveiy, and also conveyor Ell, rubber playing'balis A are manually placed, orotherwise continuously supplied on chute 12;, the leading balls successively moving into cooperating relation-with ballesupplying wheel {3 tobe urged int yieldingengagement with p ns 4 and 13a i-n'the're'cesses l3 by the roller lih Balls having an annularzfiash line thereon are positioned with said flash, lines-centered in the'machine in any suitable manner." =The,:continuously driven balliee'dingwheel i3 progressively pick up the leadingtballs and moves the same into positions between the pairs of mating mask sections 20, which have been momentarily separated by movement of rollers M passing outwardly through cam slots 55 in cams is, the rollers 4 3 thenpassing inwardly through cam slots 46 to close the mask sections firmly about said balls.

Insuch casethe pins .io in the ball-receiving recesse l3? readily disengage or release the balls as theyare carried away by the orbital movement-of the mask-section.

, The-ballsA in being carried from the ball-supplying mechanism to the ball-removing mechanism R, pass the spray-guns 45, the balls being rotated by frictional engagement of the pulleys El engaging; the driven pulley belt it. At this stage the'balls may have one or more difierent colors of paint sprayed thereon through the design openings in the mask sections 2% (see Figures who :3) When it is desirable to paint the 0 balls in a single color, the mask sections may be in the ,form of holders adapted to engage the balls at spacedpo'ints, to expose substantially the entire surfaces of the balls to the spray-guns 4i; asthe holders arelrotated in the manner described.

. As the balls approach the ball-removing mechanism R, the mating sections are separated by action, of rollers M moving. outwardly through camv slots in members 43. While the mask 45 sections are thus initially opened, the ball-removing mechanism R is rotated progressively to move the pairs of fingers 69 into cooperatingre- 50, the pairs of pins 69 of fthefingers, to be carried lat'ion with the. balls, the toggle joints H being collapsed'yieldingly to retain the ballslbetween downwardlytoward conveyor so. The balls A, upon reaching the lowermost point of swing are then in cooperating relation above the ball holders "82. At the last-named point, toggle-joint ll islstraightened byaction of rollers 15 to open jof different colors.

up the pairs of fingers 69, allowing the balls gripped therebylprogressively to drop freely by gravity, onto I, four pointed pins 82 on cooperating holder BZIJIhe balls maybe carried a sufgo'fficient distance along conveyor to permit the balls to dry before being inspected and packed.

us has been provided simple, efficient, and relatively inexpensive mechanism for spraypainting rubber ba1ls,in one color, or a plurality The apparatus may readily be adapted'for spray-painting other articles besides balls.

I Modifications of the invention may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis; l 1. Apparatus for 's'tenciling articles comprising a unit including a pair of relatively movable mating-mask sections, means for moving said mask sections toward and from mating relation about an article to be stenciled, means for inserting articles between the sections to be held thereby upon the same moving toward mating relation, and means for removing the articles from between the sections upon the same moving from mating relation.

2. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a pair of spaced supporting members rotatable about an axis, means for rotating said members in unison, a plurality of 'mask sections carried by each of said members and adapted to be in mating relation with corresponding mask sections carried by the other of said members, means for relatively moving said corresponding mask sections toward and frommating relation about articles to be stenciled, and means for spray-painting articles held in said masks as said members are rotated by said rotating means thereof.

3. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a pair of spaced supporting members rotatable about an axis, means for rotating said members, a plurality of mask sections carried by each of said members and adapted to be in mating relation with corresponding mask sections carried by the other of said members, means for relatively moving said mating mask sections toward and from mating relation about articles to be stenciled, means for spray-painting articles received between said mating mask sections as said members are rotated by said rotating means thereof, and means movable with said members as they are rotated for shielding each mating pair of mask sections from the paint spray while the others are being sprayed.

4. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a plurality of mask units for receiving articles to be stenciled, means for paint-spraying articles in the mask units through openings therein, means for moving said mask units in succession past said spraying means to stencil articles received in the units, and means movable with said units for shielding each of said units from paint spray while the others are being sprayed. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a pair of spaced supporting members rotatable about an axis, means for rotating said members, a plurality of mask sections on each of said members adapted to be in mating relation with mask sections on the other of said members, means for relativel moving said mating mask sections toward and from mating relation about articles to be stenciled, means for spray-painting articles received between the pairs of mating mask sec, tions, and means for rotating said mask sections as the articles retained therein are sprayed.

6. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a plurality of mask units for receiving articles to be stenciled, means for paint-spraying articles in the mask units through openings therein, means for movin said mask units in succession past said spraying means, and means for rotating said mask sections as the articles retained therein are sprayed by said spraying means.

7. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a paint-spraying device, mask units for containing articles to be stenciled, means for conveying said units past said spraying device in succession, and means for rotating said units as they pass said spraying device, said articles thereby being sprayed through openings in the masks.

8. Apparatus for stenciling articles; comprising a paint-spraying device, a shiftable support, a mask unit rotatably mounted on said support for containing an article to be stenciled, said mask unit having stenciling openings therein, means for shifting said support to move said unit past said spraying device, and means for rotating said unit on said support as it passes said spraying device, said articles in said unit thereby being sprayed through said openings in the mask unit;

9. Apparatus for stenciling articles, comprising a pair of relatively movable members, mating mask sections adapted to be supported'on'said movable members, spring-pressed means for re-' leasably and replaceably securing said'mask sec tions on said members, and means for moving said members to shift said mask sections toward and from mating relation about an article to be stenciled. I

'10. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising 'a unit including a pair of relatively movable mating mask sections, means for moving said" mask sections toward and from mating relation about an article to be stenciled, feeding means for holding an article, and means operable in synchronism with the opening and closing of said mask sections for actuating said feeding'means to position an article held therein between the sections in open position thereof.

11. Apparatus for stenciling articles comprising a unit including a pair of relatively movable mating mask sections, means for moving said mask sections toward and from mating relation about an article to be stenciled, feeding means for releasably holding an article, means operable in synchronism with the opening and closingof said mask sections means to position an article therein between the sections in open position thereof, and means operable in synchronism with the opening and closing of said mask sections for removing the article from between the sections in open position thereof.

12. Apparatus for stenciling articles compris-- ing a unit including a pair of relatively movable mating mask sections, means for moving said mask sections toward about an article to be for releasably holding stenciled, feeding means an article, and means for actuating said feeding means to position an article held thereby between the sections in open position thereof, whereby the mask-sections are movable into said mating positioned article.

13. Apparatus for spray-painting or like treatment of articles comprising a pair of relatively movable supporting members, meansfor relatively-moving said supporting members toward and from supporting engagement about articles to be painted, means for releasably gripping an article and operable toward and from said supporting members in synchronism with said relative movement thereof for releasing the article between the members to be supported thereby upon the samebeing moved toward each other, and means shiftable toward and from said members in synchronism with said relative movement thereof for gripping and removing the articles from between the members. 7

relation about said DIETRICH G. REMPEL.

for actuating said feeding and from mating relation 

